Doylestown, Pa. – The Penn State Harrisburg women's soccer team opened their 2016 campaign on the road against the Delaware Valley Aggies. After going down in the final minute of the first half, the Lions battled back to even before claiming their first win of the year in exciting fashion with a game winner in double overtime.
Harrisburg started strong and had appeared to take control of the game early, but the momentum was short lived as the Aggies showed incredible effort and skill as they slowed down the Lions initial presence in the first ten minutes. After nearly 45 minutes of soccer being played at both ends, the Aggies edging the Lions in shots and corners hit a rocket from 30 yards for a 1-0 halftime lead.
Penn State started the second half with a mindset and formation set up to attack with numbers. The Lion women also brought a much better overall effort than was seen in the first half where the young squad appeared a little nervous in what was for many of them, their first collegiate experience. As the clock wound down, it eventually took a set piece that allowed the Lions to bring up their aerial ball winners for the chance at goal in the 70th minute. Madison Hemler (Boiling Springs, Pa. / Boiling Springs) held nothing back as she put her body on the line for the game tying header goal, just beating the GK as both collided and the ball hit the net.
90 minutes of soccer was just not enough for as the game finished regulation 1-1. The first overtime period showed that the Lion's depth was likely enough to secure at least a point on the road as the Aggies finally started to slow down. Fortunately in the second overtime period, Kali Edwards (Harrisburg, Pa. / Bishop McDevitt) found some space and hit a long shot that hit the post and used a nudge from the keeper to end up in the back of the net for the thrilling 2-1 Harrisburg win.
The Lions will host Hood College for their home opener on Saturday September 3rd with a kickoff at noon.